Selfishness and Pride are
the root of our marital problems.
By
Pastor Steve Carr in Arroyo Grande, California.
http://www.covenantkeepers.org.
Have you ever wondered what
causes the conflicts in your marriage? Is there one basic reason why you
and your spouse seem to continually battle with each other? If you have
considered these questions, you are on the right track because you are searching
for the root of your problems. If you have never asked yourself these questions,
won't you stop and consider them right now?
Is there a root cause to the disagreements and strife between you? Think
for a moment about the one thing that Scripture requires of us in order to
reconcile our conflict with God and follow Him. Jesus put His finger squarely on
our greatest need: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will
lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew
16:24,25). Jesus made it clear that the disciples could not continue to live
for themselves and follow Him at the same time. Self had to be denied to the
point of death. These men were called to go to the cross in their personal
lives for the sake of the One who called them. Jesus knew that self had to be
dethroned if He was ever to be enthroned as Lord of their lives.
The self-life is what keeps any
person at war with God and living an independent life. If you want to follow
Christ, living for self will be impossible. Paul addressed this issue with the
Corinthians as one of the root causes of their many conflicts with each other.
He encouraged that since Christ had "died for all...those who live should live
no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2
Corinthians 5:15). He explained that living for self is directly opposed to
living for Christ. Therefore, selfishness is the primary issue that God desires
to deal with in every life. Only as you renounce selfish living can you begin to
live for Him and be able to truly serve others.
The Apostle James also wrote to the church explaining why the Christians
in his day were having so much strife. He declared, "where envy and self-seeking
exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there" (James 3:16). The word
confusion means "a state of instability and disorder." Self-seeking is what
causes this instability and disorder in all relationships. Envy is equally
self-oriented because it is only concerned with getting for itself what another
has. Every conflict you have and every evil thing begins with a concentration
on self. If you want to deal with the root cause of the conflicts in your
relationship, here it is: selfishness.
Why is selfishness such a root issue?
First of all, self-seeking is
completely contrary to love. Paul taught the Corinthian church this vital truth
when he explained that "love does not seek its own" (1 Corinthians 13:5).
Scripture makes it clear that love is always more concerned about others'
well-being. Paul had already made this clear to the Corinthians when he
commanded them: "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being"
(1 Corinthians 10:24). Therefore, love and selfishness cannot co-exist. They are
like oil and water that can never mix. Always remember this fundamental truth:
the degree to which you love others equals that of the denial of self.
What does selfishness look like in a marriage?
Selfishness has many faces, all of which are ugly. Sometimes self is seen in a very bold and aggressive way when a person will verbally insist on having his or her own way. It's his way or it's no way. It's the straightforward demand of me first. Sometimes this bold demand is accompanied with a violent outburst of anger to insure its way is obtained through intimidation. Other times selfishness is very subtle. It can have the quiet face of cunning manipulation with gentle words. But in reality, it is still just a persistent pressure to work it's own will upon you. It also may be seen as that stubborn resistance to bend or compromise over even the smallest issues. When its will is not acknowledged or yielded to, there is a quiet sulking or an attitude of indifference until the other partner finally surrenders.
Whether selfishness is seen in
its bold or subtle forms, it is the root of the problems between you. Beloved,
be not deceived. When you allow self-righteousness, self-will,
self-justification, or self-indulgence to reign in your heart, it can only bring
every evil thing to your relationship. Only by laying the axe to the root of
this tree will you ever see the fruit you desire in your life and marriage.
Where are you living selfishly?
Before you can ever begin to
deal with any of the problems in your marriage, you must first identify exactly
where you are living selfishly. Jesus said, "First remove the plank from
your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your
brother's eye" (Matt. 7:5). Because of this command, I often start here in
marriage counselling because I know this is the root of the problem. I
usually ask a couple to begin by making a list for me of every place in which
each one is living selfishly. The plank needs to be removed from each eye
before either can clearly see the real need in their marriage. I can not stress
to you enough how important it is for you to first look in the mirror before you
ever take a magnifying glass to your mate.
Let me speak very frankly with you. Unless you are willing to do this
exercise, you can forget about solving the problems in your marriage. If
you really want to get to the root of your marital problems, here is what you
need to do: Find a piece of paper and get off by yourself. Ask God to show you
the plank in your own eye. Begin by making a list of every area where you are
living selfishly in your marriage relationship. Be specific. Is your thinking
centered on yourself or on your mate's well-being? Do your conversations begin
and end with your views and opinions? Where are you failing to lay your life
down and give to your spouse? But, a word of warning. Be careful that you don't
begin listing your mate's faults, only your own. As you look at your list, you
will see clearly what is causing the conflicts in your marriage.
How can you overcome selfishness in your relationship?
1. Choose to look honestly at your thoughts and motives. This first step is very important because selfishness begins in the thoughts and motives of your heart. Before selfishness ever becomes an action in your life, it will surface in the way you think about yourself and your spouse. Therefore, you must first detect selfishness in your heart and mind before you will be able to control it in your behaviour. This is why Jesus said to the scribes, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4). Jesus knew their hearts were wrong, and so He encouraged them to examine their own thinking so that they might see the error within. This is also why you must probe you own thought life. Close scrutiny will enable you to see if the motives of your heart are selfish or not.
You examine
yourself by simply focusing your attention on what you are thinking. How do
you perceive yourself in relation to your partner? Do you think you are better,
smarter, or wiser than your spouse? These thoughts reveal selfish and
arrogant thinking that will result in actions that will cause conflict and
little relationship. Remember, "If anyone thinks himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Galatian 6:3). Don't deceive yourself.
Rather, be honest and think seriously about yourself. You are nothing apart from
Christ and His transforming grace. Think this way because it is the truth. These
thoughts will become the basis and motivation for new behaviour.
2. Ask
for revelation and conviction. Only when you begin to pray for the
conviction of the Spirit in your own life will the changes begin. His conviction
is the powerful motivation you need to make this dramatic turnaround. Do you
remember His conviction and how it turned your life around to follow Christ in
the beginning? The Holy Spirit has come to "convict the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgement" (John 16:8). He is the best one to show you
what is wrong, what is right, and what the consequences will be if you fail to
respond.
However, when I speak of conviction, don't mistake it for condemnation.
God's conviction is the sweet and gentle prodding of the Lord that draws you to
Him and causes you to willingly surrender to His way of love. Be sure you
know the difference between conviction and condemnation. One is life-giving, the
other is deadly. Therefore, ask God to reveal every place where self reigns
in your life. Then go back and add each of these items to your list. Finally,
ask the Holy Spirit to convict you daily that you might have the inward
motivation to change. Ask Him to give you no rest until Christ controls
these attitudes, motives, and actions.
3. Choose to deny yourself and surrender to the Lord. Once you have determined where you are living selfishly and you are convicted about it, you now have a choice to make. Will you choose to deny your selfish desires or choose to deny the conviction? It's one thing to know you shouldn't do something; it's quite another to respond to the conviction and stop doing it. It's really just a choice you make.
Throughout Scripture, man's choice is identified as what has determined whether he will experience God's power to change or not. Joshua encouraged the children of Israel, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15). God pleaded with His people through the Prophet Isaiah, "choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant" (Isaiah 56:4). Moses also warned the Jews, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Choosing to
deny your selfish thoughts and motives is up to you. No one can do this for you;
it's your decision. Everyday you are presented with a multitude of choices
to make. Will you choose to serve Christ or not? Will you choose what pleases
Him or what pleases you? Will you choose to serve yourself first or your
spouse? Therefore, make the choice today over each issue you listed on your
paper. Choose to yield to the conviction of the Spirit and deny yourself. When
you do, you'll finally experience peace. Choose to yield to Christ and ask
Him to empower you by His Spirit to live unselfishly. Surrendering to Christ and
His Holy Spirit is where you obtain the power to follow through on your choice
to turn from selfish behaviour. When you fully give yourself to Christ, He
comes to take control and transforms your innermost being. He is the One who
will give you the new thoughts and desires that are needed for change. He's
waiting for you to come to Him so that He might show you that He is stronger
than your selfish nature. His Holy Spirit will transform you into the image of
Jesus Christ if you will just ask (2 Corinthians 3:18). If you would only seek
His power today, you would surely find His promise is true. Jesus said, "If you
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke
11:13). Have you been asking? Without His power you will be battling your
selfishness in your own strength and this will only guarantee failure.
Paul also emphasized the need of the Holy Spirit who would enable victory
over our fleshly nature. He said, "If you live according the flesh you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live"
(Romans 8:13). Notice that Paul acknowledges that you have a choice in this
matter of the fleshly deeds of the body. You must decide if you will live
according to your flesh or put it to death. You must by the power of the Spirit
deny the deeds of the flesh and trust that by His enabling grace you will live.
His life in you will always empower you to serve others before yourself.
4. Confess your selfishness. Once you have recognized your selfish behaviour and have begun to deal with it before God, now it is time to reconcile these issues with your spouse. My suggestion is to obey the command of the Apostle James. "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16).
If you want
your marriage to be healed this is what you must do. Why is this action
important? Because this is what Christians do when there has been an offense.
What would actually happen if you were to confess what God has shown you
concerning your own selfish behaviour and ask your spouse for forgiveness and
prayer for change in your life? What would be the response from your spouse to
this kind of humility and honesty? Don't you think that your mate would respond
in a loving and gracious way? Wouldn't this action bring healing to your
relationship and a new depth of intimacy and love?
God requires this kind of humility and honesty in our relationships. Without
it He will not bless your attempt to change these areas of your life.
Solomon declared, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever
confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Don't let the
sin of pride keep you from making a complete break with your selfish behaviour.
In addition,
when you confess your needs to your spouse you will not only attain a deeper
intimacy with one another, but you will also receive the added benefit of his or
her prayer support. Notice the rest of James 5:16. "The effective, fervent
prayer of a righteous man avails much." Prayer together will avail great
things that you have not yet seen. Don't you want this kind of help for your
personal struggles with selfishness? What depth of intimacy could result if you
could pray together about these issues! Don't miss this means to oneness.
5. Choose to love. In the proverb that I just quoted, two things are necessary for God (or anyone for that matter) to show mercy to someone: confessing and forsaking. Confession enables you to resolve the issue with your spouse and the forsaking of selfish behaviour ensures your mate that you mean business. Choosing to love in circumstances in which you were formerly living selfishly is the only way you will be able to forsake selfish behaviour. Forsaking is the choice to love.
Let me suggest a simple and practical way to begin choosing to love. Go back again to your list of selfish behaviour and simply begin to do the exact opposite of every item listed. As I shared with you previously, selfishness is completely contrary to love. Therefore, if you have demonstrated selfishness when your spouse has asked for your help around the house, you must turn and choose to lovingly give when the next request comes. If you use anger to selfishly intimidate, put this to death by the Holy Spirit and allow His love to begin to control you. If you struggle with demanding your way, turn and begin to compromise. When a decision must be made over issues that really make no difference, allow your mate to make the choice instead of insisting on your way.
Remember, your
ultimate example must be Jesus Christ, who "did not please Himself" (Romans
15:3). He chose to love each one of us to the point of laying down His own
life in service to the Father. If you sincerely care for your spouse, you will
serve and give of yourself in the same manner. May you have the heart to do as
He has done for you!